Counting system



July 21, 1936. c. A. MARsToN GOUNTING s YsTEM Filed April 4, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet l \.w 4, 4. .v Il, g A 4 Y n M a M N. ../u 111m fill lll. W1M W 9 i| d M M //:y ATTORNEYS.

July 21,1935- I c. A. MARsToN 2,048,192

` COUNTING `SYSTEM Filed'AprilA, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. Caer/.fiff/fron A TTORNE YS.

Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,048,192coUNrlNc.l SYSTEM Curtis A. Marston, Sacramento, Calif. ,Applicationapril 4, 1932, serial No. soasss My invention relates to electriccounting systems and more particularly it relates to a system forcounting the number of times a particular operation -has been performedby a certain machine. The principles of the invention will be describedin connection with a cut-ofi' saw machine, such as that employed inlumber mills,

forv cuttingV aboard into lengths which are suitable for'boxes,furniture, or variousother articles 1o of manufacture, but it is to beunderstood that' the invention in its broadest aspects has a widevariety of other applications. In general, the system can be employed toadvantage in any machine in which a deilnite cycle of steps is fol-.lowed `in performing the particular operation to be counted.

In a cut-oi! saw, for example, the board to becut must be placed ini adeilnite position in front of the saw blade and then movedinto the rsawblade for a definite distance to cut the piece oil. Heretofore, countingdevices were actuated at a particular step in the operation, as forexample, each time the lumber carriage was moved tothe end of itsstroke. Unreliable o r dishonest sawyers would frequently obtain a falsecount under this system by moving the empty carriage backiand forth, andthus increase their wages by cutting wind, as it were. Generally, piecescut toafa certain length are more readily so usable than pieces cut toother lengths, and in prior countingA systems no distinction was madebetween. pieces of different lengths. with the result that tifa operatorof a machine was given the same credit for cutting desirable lengths as36 he was givengfor cutting less desirable or odd lengths. Thislcondition led to abuses by the operators, who, instead of .exercisingskill in the perfomance 'di' their duties, made an endeavor to cut -asmanyg-fpi'eces as possible without regard to the best interests of thefactory.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide ai 'countingsystem which overcomes the disadvantages of prior systems and which (Cl.23S-92) discriminate between the pieces cut to different lengths andwhich is unresponsive to .idle movements of the lumber carriage.

Another object is to provide a counting system in which a plurality ofoperations are required 5 in actuating the counting means and inwhichthe counting means is rendered unresponsive to all operationsexcept the proper one after the initial operation has been performed.

Another object is to provide a counting system 10 in which means lisprovided which renders it necessary to perform more labor in obtaining afalse count than is required to obtain the same count honestly, wherebythe incentive to obtain a false count is entirely removed. l5

'I'hese and other objects and advantages are attained in the embodimentsof my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, mostly diagrammatic, 20 of a cut-oil sawincorporating the principles of the invention and illustrating thegeneral arrangement of the parts of the counting system.

Figure -2 is a circuit diagram illustrating one manner in which theelectrical connections can ,25

be made in the counting system. 1 Figure 3 is a circuit diagramillustrating av modification.

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of another modication. 30 Referring to thedrawings and first to Figure l thereof, I have illustrated a vcut-offsaw having a carriage I6 and a rotatable-buzz saw blade i1. The carriagei6 is mounted on wheels i8 which roll on tracks I9 to convey thecarriage to and 35 from the saw blade i1. A board or other length oflumber 2| is shown in position on the carriage i0 against a straightedge 22 or other suitable aligning means. l

A plurality of accurately positioned stops 23 40 Ato 2l, eachincorporating an electric switch, are

mounted on a relatively stationary table 29. The stops or switches 23 to2B are positioned on the `machine adjacent` the end of theboard which gboard is brought into abutting engagement with any one of the otherstops. A certain length will ordinarily be more readily usable thanother lengths, and a second 'length will be next desirable and so on,every length having some use, but the demand for the diiferent lengthsbeing different. The boards to be cut come in various lengths, so thateach sawyer must determine to the best of his ability the mostadvantageous manner of sub-dividing the boards into shorter lengths. Indoing this he should strive to obtain as many of the most desirable cutsas is possible, consistent with minimum waste.'

In addition to measuring the piece to be cut off, the stops or switches23 to 23 serve to initiate actuation of the counting devices. When theboard is made to abut against one of the stops, the switch associatedwith this stop is actuated by the end of the board, thereby closing anelectric circuit, to be described presently, for initiating actuation ofthe particular counter employed for counting the number of pieces of thelength represented by that stop. Upon actuation of one of the switches23 to 23 in this manner all of the counting devices are madeunresponsive to a subsequent actuation oi.' any of the switches untilthe piece has been cut off. In cutting off the piece, the carriage |6 ismoved to bring the board against the saw blade I1 and a switch 3|disposed in the path of the carriage |6 is actuated at the end of thecarriage movement. The actuation of switch 3| restores the countingapparatus and the circuit associated therewith to normal condition andthe system is then in readiness for the next counting operation. Thecounting devices can be disposed in a suitable housing 32 and, ifdesired, a signal lamp 33 can be mounted on or near the housing in someconspicuous place.

Referring now to Figure 2, wherein I have shown one manner in whichelectrical connections can be made, there is illustrated a plurality ofcounting devices 34, 35, and 36, of any suitable construction but eachhaving an actuating member 31 which is movable in a definite path toeffect a counting operation. In the embodiment illustrated, the countingdevice 34 registers the number of pieces cut having a length determinedby the switch stop 23, the counting device 35 registers the number ofpieces having a length determined by the switch stop 24, and the counter36 counts all of the pieces in the group ot remaining lengths.

An electro-magnet 33 having an armature 33 is associated with each ofthe counters 34, 35 and 36. Whenever one of the electro-magnets 33 isenergized and -then de-energized, its associated counter eiects aregistering operation. A locking relay 4| can be connected in parallelwith each of the electro-magnets 33 for completing a holding circuit forthe associated electro-magnet 33. A main relay 42 is provided whichyserves as a circuit changer and which when energized renders all oi therelays 33 unresponsive to subsequent actuation of'the switches 23 to 23.

Assuming that the end of the board 2| is placed against the switch stop26 as is shown in Figure 1, preparatory to the cutting oil.' of a pieceof board measured by the stop 26, the relay 33 associated with counter36 will be energized over a circuit which can be traced from line L1,through line switch 43, conductor 44, lower contacts and armature 43 ofrelay 42, conductor 46, switch 26, conductor 41, electro-magnet 33 andrelay winding 4| in parallel, conductor 43, conductor 43, conductor 5|,switch 3|, line switch 43 to line `L2. Electro-magnet 33 is thereuponenergized to move the actuating memberT of counter 36 to the positionshown in Figure 2. Simultaneously,

'winding 42. and lamp 33 in parallel, conductor lo relay winding 4| isenergized to close contacts I2 and contacts 53.

Closure of contacts 52 completes a holding circuit for electro-magnet 33and relay winding 4| which can be traced from line Li, conductor 54,conductor 56, contacts 52, windings 33 and 4I in parallel, conductors43, 43 and 5|, switch 3| to line La. Subsequent opening of switch 26,therefore, does not serve to eil'ect de-energization of electro-magnet33. l0

Closure of contacts 53 completes an energizing circuit for the mainrelay 42 and lamp 33, which can be traced from line L1, conductor 54,conductor 56, contacts 53, conductors 51 and 53, relay 5|, switch 3| toline La. Lamp 33 thereupon lights up and the armature 43 of relay 42opens the lower contacts and closes the upper contacts associated withrelay 42.

Closing oi' the upper contacts of relay 42 serves 20 to complete aholding circuit for this relay and the lamp 33 which can be traced fromline L1, conductor 44, upper contacts and armature 43 of relay 42,winding of relay 42, conductor 5I, switch 3| to line La. Opening of thelower contacts of relay 42 disables the control circuit through switches23 to 23, so that subsequent opening or closing oi any one of theseswitches produces no eii'ect on any of the counters 34 to 36.rElectro-magnet 33 of counter 36 is held en- 3" ergized over the circuitwhich extends through contact 52 and the associated actuating member 31is thus held in the position shown in Figure 2. Relay 42 and lamp 33 areheld energized over the circuit which extends through the upper contactsof relay 42.

To eii'ect a complete counting operation and to restore the system tonormal, the switch 3| is adapted to be actuated to open condition bymovement of the carriage I6 to the position it assumes at the end of asawing operation. 'I'hus the switch 3| can be mounted as shown in Figure1 in the path of the axle 6| oi the forward wheels of the carriage or inthe path of any other parto! the carriage in such a location that it isactuated to open position when the carriage has been moved a distancewhich is suiiiciently great to effect the cutting oii of the end of theboard 2|. When the switch 3| is opened, the holding circuits of relays42 and 4| are broken and electro-magnet 33 becomes de-energized, therebyreleasing its armature 33 and allowing the actuating member 31 to berestored to its initialposition under the force of any suitable biasingmeans. 'I'he piece cut on is thus counted on counter 36 and the systemis restored to normal condition.

In this manner the number of pieces cut in the group of lengthscontrolled by the switch stops 25 to 23 is registered in counter 3 6,while counters 34 and 35 register the number of pieces 5.0 cut under thecontrol of switch stops -23 and 24, respectively. Lamp 33 becomesilluminated whenever the relay 42 is energized and is extinguished whenthe relayI 42 is de-energiaed, sov that by watching the lampat anyparticular 05 saw, itcan be readily determined whether the sawyer atthat machine is attempting tolobtain a false count. Movement of theempty carriage i6 back 'and forth against the switch 3| will not actuateany oi the couhtersf'Moreover, repeat- .70 ed actuation of switches 23to 23, after an initial actuation of one of them, will not actuate thecounters unless there is a succeeding operation of switch 3|. It is tobe understood that all oithe other parts of the system can be made in-Z5 accessible tothe operator of the machine, thereby precluding anyunauthorized tampering in an eifort to secure a false count.

The system illustrated in Figure 3 is somewhat similar tothat shown inFigure 2, but a single electro-magnetic winding 32 is made to performthe functions of the windings 33 and 4i associated with each of thecounters in Figure 2. The corresponding parts are indicated by thereference characters employed in Figure 1. A pair of movable switchelements 33 and 44, insulated from one another in any suitable manner,are actuated upon energization of the associated'electro-'magnet 32 Aandsimultaneously the actuating member 31 is moved through one- 4half ofits cycle of movement.

Assuming that the switch 23 has been closed by moving the end of theboard thereagainst, an energizing circuit for the electro-magnet 32 iscompleted which can be traced from line L1. line switch 43, conductor33, uppercontacts and armature 43 of -the relay 42, conductor 51, switch23, winding 32, conductor 63, switch 3|, conductor 33 to line La. vThereupon switch 53 closes to complete a holding'circuit for a winding32 4and switch 64 closes to complete an energizing circuit for relay 42,while simultaneously the actuating member of 'counter 34 is movedthrough one-half cycle of its movement.

' The holding vcircuit for Dwinding 32 can be traced from line L1,conductor 33, conductor 1|,

conductor 12, switch 33, conductor 13, winding 32, conductor 33, switch3|, conductor-63 to line La. Winding 32, therefore, remains energizedafter the switch 23 is opened.

The energizing circuit for relay 42 can be traced from line L1,conductors A33, 1| and.12, switch 34, conductor 14, through relaywinding 42 and lamp 33 in parallel, conductor 13, switch 3|, con; ductor33 to line La; Lamp 33 thereupon lights up and the armature 43 isattracted to close the lower contacts and to open the upper contacts ofyrelay 42. Upon openingof the upper contacts of relay 42, the energizingcircuits ofv windings 32, through the switch stops 23, 24 and 25 aredisabled, so that subsequent actuation of switches 23 to 25 produces noeffect.

Closing of the lower contacts of relay 42 complete a holding circuit forthis relay which can be traced from line L1, conductor 33, lowercontacts and armature 43 of relay 42, conductor 11, winding of relay 42andl lamp 33 in parallel,

conductor 13, switch 3|,-conductor 33 to line La. The lamp 33 thenremains energized,'the switches 23 to 25 remain ineffective and thecounter A34 remains partially actuated, until the carriage |3fis movedto cut of! the end of the board.

-When the carriage I3 reaches the end o! its stroke, the switch 3| ofFigure 1 is opened, thereby restoring the system to normal condition,and in readiness toetfect the next counting operation.

The system mustrated 1n Figure 4 1s simpli- I fied still further in thatthe actuating electromagnet lsassociatedfwith each of the counters 34 to33 is employed to close only a single set of contacts and the holdingcircuit for -electromagnet 13 is omitted. Thus, an arm 3| is actuatedupon energization of one of the electromagnets 13 to eilect' closure ofa pair of wiping or sliding contacts 32-v of any suitable construction.Assuming that the switch 24 is closed in Figure 4, an energizing circuitfor the electromagnet 13 associated with counter 35 is completed whichcan be traced from line L1, line switch 43, conductor 33, lower contactsand armature 43 of -relay 42, conductor 34, switch 24, conductor 33,electro-magnet 13, conductor 31, conductor 33, switch 3| to line La.Electro-magnet 'I3 is thereupon energized actuating the 43 of relay 42,winding of relay 42, through Q switch 3| to line La. Opening of thelower contacts of relay 42 disables the energizing circuits of all ofthe electromagnets 19, and the electromagnet 13 associated with counter35 is deenergized, permitting the contacts 32 to open. Subsequentactuation of thev switches 23 to 25 produces no effect on any of thecounters, since the energizing circuit for the counters remains open atthe lower contact of relay 42 as long as relay 42 remains energized. Tode-energize revlay 42 and thus restore the system to normal,

the carriage I3 must be moved to its rear position, thereby opening theswitch 3|.

In each of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 4, one ofthe counters 34 -to 33 is actuated, whenever the end of the board i`splaced against one of the switch stops preparatory to a cutting oiIoperation. Until the switch 3| is opened, however, the circuitscontrolled by the switch stops are disabled, thereby precludingsubsequent actuation of any of the counters without moving the carriageI6 to its rear position. In the embodiments illustratedin Figures'2 and3 the actuated counter is only partially actuated in response to theplacing of the board against one of theswitch stops and the actuation ofthe counter is not completed until the carriage |3- has been carried toits rear position. In every case. however, two distinct steps intheoperation of the machine are required to be performed during eachcounting operation' and unless these steps are both performed, andperformed in a denite counting'devices serving to register the number ofpieces cut of a definite size", an actuating member for each countingdevice movable in a dennite cycle for effecting actuation of each ofsaid counting devices, 'contacting means adapted to be operated bypositioning of different lengths of material in operative positionrelative to the saw, electromagnetic means energized by operation ofsaid contacting means to eiect movement of one of said actuating membersthrough a portion only oi its cycle in response to thepositioning of thelength of material inoperative position rela` tive to the saw, theparticular actuating member ail'ected being the one associated with thecounting devicea which counts th'e 'pieces of the size about to be outwhen the length of material is thus positioned, means for de-energizingsaid elecy tro-magnetic means to cause said actuating memfusA ment inresponse to completion of a sawing operation, and means conditioned byoperation of any one contacting means for precluding energization of theelectro-magnetic means associated with all of the other actuatingmembers during a sawing operation. f

2. In a counting system for separately counting the number of units ofdifferent sizes successively operated upon by a work element, aplurality of counting devices each of which serves to register thenumber of units of a predetermined size which are operatedupon by saidwork element, a movable actuating member for each of said devices,electro-magnetic means ior effecting movement of one of said actuatingmembers through a portion of its cycle in response to predeterminedpositioning of a unit of predetermined size with respect to said workelement, said last means including electrical contacting means arrangedto be operated by positioning units of predetermined size with respectto the work element, the particular actuating member affected being theone associated with the counting device which registers the units ofthat size about to be'operated upon, and means for causing saidactuating member to be moved to complete the cycle of its movement andto effect actuation of its associated counting device, upon the workelement. completing its operation upon a unit.

3. In a counting system for separately counting the number of units ofdifferent sizes operated upon by a machine having a definite cycle ofoperation, a plurality of counting devices each of which serves toregister the number of-l units of a predetermined size which areoperated upon by said machine, a movable actuating member for each ofsaid devices, means for effecting movement of one of said actuatingmembers through a portion of itsV cycle in response to a predeterminedpositioning of a unit of predetermined size with respect to saidmachine, at the commencement of a cycle of operation, said last meansincluding electrical contacting means arranged to be operated bypositioning units of predetermined size with respect to the workelement, the particular actuating member affected being the oneassociated with the counting device which registers the units ofpredetermined size about to be operated upon, means for causing saidactuating member to be moved to complete the cycle of its movement andto effect a registration in said counting device in response to saidcompletion of its cycle of movement, and means released by completion ofthe cycle of operation of the machine for precluding actuation vof allof the other actuating members only during the period that any one ofthe actuating members remains partially actuated. f

4. In combination with a machine having a definite cycle of operationfor performing work upon articles of various sizes, a plurality of elec-5 trical contactors, there being a contactar corresponding to each sizeof article, each contactor being closed by introducing into the machinean article of its corresponding size, a plurality of counting devices,there being a counting device for each contactor, electro-magneticactuating means for the counters, an electrical circuit connecting saidcontactors with said electro-magnetic means, whereby upon the closing ofa contactor there is an actuation of a corresponding A counting device,a master contactor adapted to be closed during a cycle of operation ofthe machine and to be automatically opened upon completion of saidcycle, meansv eiective responsive to closing of one of said rst namedcontactors, together with closed condition of said main contactor, forrendering the remainder of the first mentioned contactors ineffective tocause a registration on their associated counting devices, and meansresponsive to opening of said main contacter for reconditioning thesystem for a subsequent counting operation.

5. In combination with a machine having a definite cycle of operationfor performing work upon articles of various sizes, a plurality ofelectrical contactors, there being a contacter for each size of article,each contactor being closed upon introducing into the machine an articleof its corresponding size, a plurality of counting devices. there beinga counting device for each contactor, 86 electro-magnetic means for thecounters, each electro-magnetic means requiring electrical energizationfollowed by de-energization of the same, to complete a count on itscorresponding counting device, an electrical circuit connecting saidcontactors with said electro-magnetic means whereby upon closing of acontactar there is energization of the .corresponding electro-magneticmeans, means included in said circuit for retaining an electro-magneticmeans energized following closing of its associated contactor and toshunt out the remainder of said electro-magnetic means, a mastercontactor adapted to be closed during a cycle of operation of themachine and to be automatically opened upon completion of said cycle. uand means for eecting de-energization of an energized one of saidelectro-magnetic means and reconditioning of the system for a subsequentcounting operation. responsive to opening gg ot said master contactar.

CURTIS A. MARSTON.

